Yearlong inspection aims to halt environmental violations

China is to launch a yearlong comprehensive inspection aimed at checking for environmental protection violations, according to a circular released by the State Council.

A man wearing mask at Tian'anmen square in Beijing on Wednesday. [Photo/CFP]

Governments at various levels must finish the inspection before the end of next year, focusing on enterprises that discharge pollutants and on implementation of environmental regulations, according to the circular.

It was made public on Thursday and deals with intensifying environmental supervision and law enforcement.

Inspection results will be made public, and irregularities should be completed before the end of 2016, the circular said. All projects that violate environmental law or regulations, such as those without approval from environmental authorities or run without proper environmental protection facilities, are to be terminated or suspended for correction, the circular said.

It also promised "zero tolerance" for environmental protection violations and harsher punishment for officials who fail to protect the environment.

The circular was released ahead of the implementation of the revised Environmental Protection Law on Jan 1. The revised law, regarded as stricter than previous versions, includes articles that give environmental protection authorities more enforcement power.

It also provides harsher punishment for environmental violations, such as greatly increased penalties for enterprises that illegally discharge pollutants.

"(Local authorities) are expected to produce a list of enterprises that violate the environmental protection law after the inspection," said Zou Shoumin, director of the Supervision Bureau at the Ministry of Environmental Protection. "Another year will be needed to rectify the problems.

"Although progress has been made in recent years on environmental protection, there are still frequent violations, and mass incidents arising from environmental problems occur occasionally," he said.

Wang Canfa, an environmental law professor at China University of Political Science and Law, said: "The release of the circular reflects the strong determination by the central government to enforce the new Environmental Protection Law.

It also suggests effective law enforcement is lacking for environmental protection.

"It is important to deal harshly with unapproved projects, as there are many such projects," he said.

Many suburban and rural areas are not covered by environmental monitoring networks, triggering protests by people in those areas, said Zou, the official from the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, all cities and counties in China are expected to extend their environmental monitoring networks to all areas under their jurisdiction by the end of next year.